Fold catching mechanism for cloth piling machines



H. W. SPRINGER FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES FiledNov. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I n uentor Herbert W. Springer Oct. 28,1952 H. w. QPQINGER 2,615,712

FOLD CATCHING MECHANISH FOR CLOTH PILING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO BY 4 &M u

1952 H. w. SPRINGER 15,712

FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledNov. 29, 1948 E2 48' Herbert n. Springer 3 INVENTOR.

Fri/'04 FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29,1948 Oct. 28, 1952 H. w. EPRINGE'R 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Herbert W.Springer IA r. m :4

Oct. 28, 1952 H. w. SPRINGER FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILINGMACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 I s 8 q 0. m .MM Q A 0% sm3 W i r w e m @w H *w Patented Oct. 28, 1952 OFFICE U FOLD CATCHINGMECHANISM FOR CLOTH PILING MACHINES a Herbert W. Springer, Quakertown,Pa. Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,585

., Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a cloth piling Ina-- chine and has forits-primary object positively to hold the topmost foldof a cloth pileagainst movement during the travel of the cloth piling carriage awayfrom the fold.

Another object is to lay cloth on a support in successive folds ofuniform width for inspection and other purposes.

Cloth piling or cloth laying machines of the type to which thisinvention relates generally comprise a carriage mounted to reciprocateto and fro in a rectilinear path above a supportin surface upon whichcloth from a supply of cloth carried by the carriage is laidinsuccessive folds by mechanism carried by the carriage and cooperatingwith fold retaining mechanism supported on the support, adjacentopposite ends of the rectilinear path through which the carriage moves.In most instances the cloth is held on the support adjacent successivefolds through the medium of weighted foot members which depend onfriction for the purpose of retaining the folds in place, with-theresult that the cloth leaving the carriage must be fed in a relativelyslack condition. I v v Another object of this invention is to positivelyhold the successive folds so that as the carriage reciprocates, and thecloth is fed therefrom,

'the cloth leaving the carriage may be held under considerable tension.

The above'and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a carriage supporting a supply ofcloth and mounted to move to and fro in a rectilinear path above asupport on which the cloth from said supplyis piled in successive folds,a reversible cloth folding bar having a cloth receiving slot extendingtherethrough mounted on the carriage to oscillate about a longitudinalaxis which extends transversely of the rectilinear path through whichthe carriage moves, cloth catches carried by thesupport adjacentopposite ends of the rectilinear path for engaging opposite folded edgesof the piled cloth and holding said cloth against movement under theinfluence of pull exerted on the cloth by the carriage as it recedesfrom a cloth catch, and means on the carriage for lifting a cloth catchclear of the piled cloth and causing it to enter the slot in the foldingbar as the carriage approaches the cloth catch. a I 1 Other featuresinclude means operable by the folding bar reversing means to elevate thefolding bar each time that the carriage reaches the end of itsmovement'in the rectilinear path;

Still other features include means on the carriage to elevate, thefolding bar. each time'the carriage reaches the'end of its movement inthe rectilinear path, and means on the folding bar elevating means forlifting the cloth catches and guiding them into position to grip thefold of the "cloth as it is being: deposited on the cloth pile by thefolding bar.

In the drawings; h

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a cloth piling machineembodying the features of this invention. I

Figure 2" is a fragmentary side view of the cloth piling machineillustrated in Figure 1. Figure Zais a fragmentary side view of the endof the machine opposite that illustrated, in Figure 2, Figure 3 is anenlargedfragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the cloth foldinbar approaching one of the cloth catches, Figure/i is a view similar toFigure 3 showing the folding bar-at the end of its travel and inreversed position, with the cloth catch engaging the cloth passingthrough the folding bar,

a Figure 5 is a view similarto Figure 4 showing the relation of theparts when the folding bar is receding from the cloth catch at the lefthand end of themachine, Figure 6 is an enlargedffragmentary sectionalview taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7215 a horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong thelinefL-l of Figure 6, I Figure 8 is anenlargedside view of one of thecloth catches. t, p a

Figure 9 is a-vertical sectional view taken su bstantially along theline 9-9 of Figure 6, i

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal'sectio'nal view through one end ofthe folding bar and showing in detail the mounting thereof,

Figure 11 is a-qview of a carriage plate with gears assembled thereon,

Figure 12 is a view of parts of the carriage --assembly,' and 1 Figure13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the clothcatches.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a carriage designated generally I0is mounted to move to the carriage Ill adjacent one end thereof areuprights or standards 16 and attached to opposed faces of the standardsl6 arespaced'parallel' vertically extending guide bars I8, the opposedfaces of which are undercut as at 20 (Figure '7) to form in conjunctionwith an adjacent standard or upright I B a vertically extending dovetailshaped channel. The opposite edges of the vertically extending guidebars I8 are provided with spaced teeth 22 forming vertically extendingracks for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter disclosed.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement in the dovetail channel formedbetween each pair of guid bars I 8 is a guide member 24, opposite sideedges of which are beveled as at 28 (Figure 17). to engage the undercutportions 20 of the guide bars I8 and retain the guide members inthedovetail shaped channels. Extending inwardly from the upper end of eachguide member 24 is..a.zstp. 28 carrying an adjustable stop screw'30which.

serves to limit upwardmovement of its respective guide member. in itsrespective channel. Formed near the lowerend ofi'each guide '24 is atransverse horizontal opening 32. The opening 32.- in the guides onopposite sides of'the carriage. I0 align. axially andform bearings inwhich are received the trunnions ofthe cloth folding bar to be morefullyihereinafter described.

A cloth" folding bar designated generally 34 extends horizontallybetween the guides 24 and each such bar comprises a pair'of'cap'members.

36"each carrying an axial trunnion 38'which is journaled'in the opening32 of an adjacent guide member 24. Keyed or otherwise fixed to eachtrunnion" 38;" for turningjmovement with said trunnion 38 between thecup member 36 and the.

guide member '24 inwhich the trunnion is journaled, is a pinion 40 'bymeans of which the trunnion 38 may be turned in its respective opening32; Fixed to'opposed-facesof the-cup members "and extendinghorizontally'across'the carriage.

I0 are transversely arcuate bars 42 forming'a substantiallytubularfoldingrbar having longitudinally extending guide slots 44 and46' (Figure 4). Extending through the edgesof the'arcuatebars 42whichdeflne. the slot 46 are longitudinallyspaced slots 48 whichaccommodate the spurs of the clothcatch'esto be more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Carried on each trunnion-38 is 'aplate 50 (Figs. 6; .'7and 9) andmountedontheplate 50 for rotation above a'horizontal axis-'on'oneside of the.

vertical guide bars I8 is a gear 52 which meshes withthe teeth'22'on'one'ofthe guide'bars I8. Alatchdogilis pivoted to the plate 50 andengages the teeth of the gear'52 to hold'the assembly against downwardmovement. Extending:

horizontallyacross the carriage I0 and journaled in the plates 50 onthe'side of the guide bars I8 remote fromthegear 52 is a-shaft'56'(Fig. 1)adjacent opposite ends of which are fixed gears 58 which have meshingengagement'with the rack.

adjustable stops '66 are carried. by :opposite sends =J5 of each pushrod in order to assure accuracy in the operation thereof. Each push rod62 is provided in one side face with an elongated longitudinal groove 88and suitable guides 10 are fixed to each plate '50 to enter the slot 68in an adjacent push rod 82 to retain it in a horizontal position.Carried by the top face of each push rod 62 and projecting upwardlytherefromis a dog 72 which engages the gear 52 when the push rod ismoved in one direction to rotate said gear a distance equal to onetooth. When the push rod reaches its limit of movement in the oppositedirection, the dog" engages the gear 58 and rotatesit a distance equalto one tooth. In this way the guidemembers 24 and the folding bar 34are'elevated'in'a step by step manner each time the;carriage-.Iflreachesan end of its to and fro motion.

Secured to the face of each plate 50 remote from the gears 40, 52 and58, and on opposite sides of the-folding. bar 34' are horizontally;extending guide bars 14 and inclined guide bars I6 which slopedownwardly as they'recede from the foldingl' bar: 34; These guide barsI4 and- IB-form oppositely disposed guide channels on oppositesides of"the carriage'and serve to elevate the cloth catches to be -morefullyhereinafter described.

Carried by the support or table- I2adjacent opposite ends of therectilinear path through which the-carriage'IO moves'are cloth catchesdesignated generally 18 and. 80. These cloth catches are exactcounterparts of one another andeach'comprises a pair of spacedupwardlyextendingparallel plates82. Carried by'the-plates 82 of each cloth catchI8and B l-- and extending therebetween in upwardly spaced "relation: tothe support or table" I2 is aliorizontally disposed tie bar 84-andtformed in each plate 82 between the tie'bar 84 andthe-edgewhich faces.the folding bar'34 is a forwardly andxdownwardly, curved slot-86.

A-framadesignated .generally 88 works-between oppositely: disposedplates 82 and comprises a pair: of arms '90 .each ofwhich is slotted asat 92 to receive the tie bar 84. These-.armsproject toward thefoldingbar 34- of the carriage. I0 and are connected. together bytiebars94 and tithe latter OfIWhlCh' is' extended beyond the arms 90 and enterthe slots to cooperate with the tie bar 84 in supporting the frame 88for receding movement as it moves upwardly inresponse to theincrease inheight of the' cloth asit is-piled on the-support. Each'arm 90isprovidedin its upper edgeintermediate its-ends'with a; row of longitudinallyspaced V-shaped notches.98 and rockably; supported in .thearms adjacentthe ends-thereof remote-fromthe tie .bar 84:isarock shaft. I00. Fixed tothe rock shaft I00 and extending forwardly-therefrom beyond the ends ofthearms are-cloth engaging fingers I02 carrying adjacent. their'extremeforward ends depending 'cloth penetratingspurs I04; The fingers I82 Eonthe-.cloth catches 'areso spaced 1ongitudinally'onthe rock' shaftI00'that they register withuthe notches 48 in'the cloth folding bar 34on'thecarriage' I0; Extending through' the fingers I02: adjacentthe'ends thereof remote. from the spurs I04'=is a' tie bar I06 which isprovided near: each end With an inverted 'U-shaped' yoke I08; thebight'-'portion' of "which bridges an arm 90 in spaced relation thereto.Pivotally supported on the tie bar? I06 is'alatch'yoke 'I III the bightportion .of" which. istprovided with 1a: knife edge I I2;whichccooperates;with the notches. in hold.- ing the L fiIlgEXSFB-t..variousangleszw-ith relation'to the frame 88. A retractile coil springI I4 is coupled at one end to an arm 90 and at its opposite end to anadjacent yoke I I yieldingly to hold the knife edge II2 thereof in anotch 98. Fixed to each end'of the rock shaft I00 and extending for.-wardly therefrom in parallel relation to the cloth engaging fingers I02is an actuating lever I05 adjacent the extreme forward end of which ismounted to rotate about a horizontal axis a roller I03. The axes of therollers I03 of each cloth catch align and are so positioned as to bereceived in the guide channels formed between the guide bars 14 and ISon opposite sides of the carriage. Fixed to each plate 82 and extendingupwardly therefrom in the path of movement of each push rod 62 is a stopIIB which engages an adjustable stop 66 as the carriage I0 approachesthe ends of its to and fro movements.

A stop I I8 projects outwardly from each standard or upright I6 in thepath of movement of the stop screws 30 carried by the guide members 24and mounted for rotation between the uprights or standards I6 adjacentthe upper ends thereof is a horizontal cloth guiding roller I over whichcloth passing from the cloth supply I4 passes on its way to the foldingbar 34.

In operation a supply of cloth I4 is mounted on the carriage and thecloth therefrom is passed over the guide roller I29 from whence itextends downwardly through the slots 44 and 46 in the folding bar 34.The end edge of the cloth is then positioned beneath the fingers I02 ofone of the cloth catches I8 or 80 and the carriage is moved in itsrectilinear path away from the fixed edge of the cloth, thus pullingcloth off of the cloth supply I4 through the folding bar 34 anddepositing it as a layer on the support or table I2. As

the carriage approaches the end of its travel away in dotted lines inFigure 4. The spurs I04 then enter the folded cloth adjacent the foldthereof and as the carriage starts on its return, the cloth is laid inthe next successive layer. Reciprocal movement of the push rods 62 willcause the dogs 12 alternately to engage the teeth of the gears 52 and 58and cause first one gear and then the other to be moved a distance ofone tooth. Such movement of the gears will cause the vertical movableguides 24 to move upwardly between the guide bars I8 and to carry thefolding bar 34 upwardly with a step by step motion as the height of thecloth pile increases. Reverse motion of the gears 52 and 58 and henceaccidental lowering of the folding bar 34 is prevented by the engagementof the dogs 54 with the gears 52. When the folding bar 34 has reachedits upper limit of travel the latch dogs 54 may be disengaged from thegears 52 and the speed at which the parts are the crank arm 60.

' Number Name Date I 1,257,421 Sussman et al. Feb. 26, 1918 r 2,442,352Gilbert et a1. June 1, 1948 2,520,895 Gilbert Aug. 29, 1950 Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number584,919, now abandoned. i 3 While in the foregoing there has been shownand described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to beunderstood that minor changes in the details of construction andarrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a cloth piling machine in which a. carriage supporting a supply ofcloth moves to and fro in a rectilinear path above a support on whichthe cloth from said supply is piled in successive folds, a cloth foldingbar having an elongated longitudinal cloth receiving slot extendingtherethrough mounted on the carriage to oscillate about a horizontalaxis which is transverse to the rectilinear path, cloth catches carriedby the support adjacent opposite ends of the rectilinear path forengaging opposite folded edges of the piled cloth and holding the clothagainstmovement, means on the carriage for lifting the cloth catchesclear of the piled cloth and causing said catches to enter said slot,vertical racks carried by said carriage, a guide member mounted forvertical movement between pairs of said racks,

invention, what is said folding bar being carried by a pair of saidguide members, a pinion fixed to said bar, a plate carried by said bar,gears carried by said plate and enmeshed with the teeth of said pair ofracks, a push rod mounted for horizontal movement and engaging saidpinion to rotate said bar, and means carried by said push rod andengaging said gears to rotate said gears, thereby moving said plate inresponse to movement of said push rod.

. 2. The machine defined in claim 1 and a latch dog carried by saidplate andengaging the teeth of one of said gears to hold said plateagainst downwardvertical movement.

3. The machine defined in claim 1 and a latch dog carried by said plateand engaging the teeth of one, of said gears to hold said plate against5. The machine defined in claim 1 and stops operatively connected witheach of said guide members for limiting the vertical upward movement ofsaid guide members. I

HERBERT W. SPRINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

